Regulation by epidermal growth factor of prostaglandin production and cyclooxygenase activity in sensitized rat endometrial stromal cells in vitro.

The effect of epidermal growth factor on prostaglandin production and cyclooxygenase activity in endometrial stromal cells isolated from the uteri of ovariectomized rats sensitized for the decidual cell reaction was examined. Treatment with epidermal growth factor (40 ng ml-1) for 24 h caused approximately 6.9., 3.4-, and 4.1-fold increases in prostaglandin E2, prostaglandin F2 alpha and 13,14-dihydro-15-keto- prostaglandin F2 alpha accumulation in the media of cultured cells. The increase in prostaglandin E2 accumulation induced by epidermal growth factor was inhibited by alpha-amanitin (2 micrograms ml-1), cycloheximide (0.5 micrograms ml-1) and dexamethasone (5 mumol l-1). Epidermal growth factor increased cyclooxygenase activity in the stromal cells in a time-dependent fashion and this increase in activity was also inhibited by alpha-amanitin, cycloheximide and dexamethasone. These results provide evidence that epidermal growth factor stimulates prostaglandin production in rat endometrial stromal cells from uteri sensitized for the decidual cell reaction through a mechanism that involves an increase in cyclooxygenase activity.